Plant Picks: Maculata

WHAT: Yellow flames on evergreen leaves are a striking feature of Elaeagnus pungens maculata. Fragrant flowers are not showy and hardly seen but their presence is made known in September and October with a powerfully sweet fragrance.

The undersides of the leaves are silver and the brown stems are covered with silver scales as well.

WHY: This large shrub is best employed in larger scaled gardens in mixed plantings and as a naturalistic screening plant. It is easy to grow and superb in flower arrangements especially in winter floral bouquets. It is very long lasting when cut.

WHERE: This tough and adaptable shrub will grow in full sun to deep shade in well-drained soils, although it will tolerate sandy or clay soils if they are not waterlogged.

Once established it is drought tolerant, but appreciates occasional watering during the driest weather. If all-green leaves appear prune out the branch to keep the variegation uniform.

In dappled and deep shade it rarely flowers. In sunny locations pruning is best in winter, early spring and early summer to keep from removing flower buds.